The Washington critic., 1887-09-05
rnn coLuMnIl INsrlrumoN
A historical sketch Of wcIi-Kuown
College,


College.
The Columbia Institution for the Iustuue-
tlon Of the Deaf and Dumb, situated al
Washington, d. O., was incorporated Ia ihn
year 1857, and has since that time b'gu aus'
tained by Congress US the Institution whore
Government beneicarlc,, viz, deat-mn'e
children OF the District Of CJIumbi, and pi
the army aud navy should receive free edit
cation.
While tho primary object OF tho inst.tu.
tion, as thus Incorporated, was to provide
for the ordinary instruction of these two
classes, the terms OF It's organic law fore.
shadowed the ultimate extension OF it,
scope and benefits much beyond tnll point.
The act OF incorporation gave the directors
full discretion rs to the length Of the cJurse
OF study to be pursued In the institution
ana permission to receive stulputs from
any OF the States and Territories OF the
United States On terms TO he agreed upon
by the proper authorities,
To give practical efficiency TO these pro.
visions the managers Of the Institution de.
cided to organize collegiate department,
and Congress was therefore applied to Tor
sn amendatOry act authorizing the insttu.
tiUn TO confer collegiate degtees. Such m
act was passed In April, 1854, an1 shortly
afterwards the directors extended the range
OF study so rs to embrace college course,
aud divided the institution into two depart
ments, giving to the advanced department
the name Of the National Deaf Mute Col.
lege.
The object Of the directors IN establishing
a school of this grade, thus taking a step
unprecedented In the history Of deaf mute
Instruction. was in part to prove, what had
been doubted by some, that persons de-
NJ h.a Il d, IHg
OF their disability, engage successfully in
the advanced studies pursued IN colleges
for the hearing. The more important end
In view, however, was TO afford TO class
Of persons In the community, already nu-
merous and increasing steadily with the
population, an opportunity to secure the
advantages OF o rigid and thorough course
Of intellectual training In the higher walks
OF literature aud the liberal arts.
The experience Of nearly quarter OF a
| century has fully satisfied those familiar
with It's workings that their assumption as
| 10 the ability OF deaf mutes to master the
arts and sciences was well founded. Publlc
| journals throughout Europe as well as
| America have but voiced the feeling OF the
| world at large in giving unqualified ap-
| proval OF the aim and object of the institu-
lion. The grounds OF the college, known
as Kendall Green, are located adjoining the
| city, and embrace about one hundred acres
making delightful home for the students
From the buildings one Of the most superi
views of the city to be had can be obtained
and cool, refreshing breezes are abundan
there even when the city Is swelterng witt
the thermometer In the hundreds.
Every modern convenience is introduced
which will tend to the comfort and happi
ness of the pupils. A large building ha
been erected for gymnasium and contains
fine swimming pool, with facilities 70
heating the water for winter use. A com
petent Instructor is employed TO build uI
the physical standard OF the students an(
enable them to better endure the strain o
study. The management OF the school |
the best, President Edward NJ. Gallaude
having devoted his life to the education o
| this unfortunate class, rs his father hal
devoted his before him. The moral train
Ing is Of inestimable advantage to til
students In after life, and they can bu
carry with them some of the dlgnity snt
high character which they daily see exem
plfed in the lives OF the faculty. Wlthou
doubt Columbia Institution and Natlons
Deaf Mute College is one of the institu
tions of which the Capital City may wei
| be proud,